n.
Pronunciation: ' ter- ē - ə r, ' te-r ē -
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English terryer, terrer, from Anglo-French ( chen ) terrer, literally, earth dog, from terre earth, from Latin terra
Date: 15th century
: any of various usually small energetic dogs orig. used by hunters to dig for small game and engage the quarry underground or drive it out
terrier